Congratulations to all the FABI graduates that were capped at the recent Autumn Graduation. This ceremony saw the biggest group of FABIans yet capped with nine PhD, 29 MSc and 40 Honours degrees being conferred! This is an excellent achievement, and we wish all the graduates success in their future endeavours – either continuing their academic journey in the Institute or professional careers and further studies elsewhere. Once a FABIan, always a FABIan! Listed below are all the graduates and the titles of their dissertations as well as the Honours students with projects in FABI over the past year. PhD Dr Mamokete Bokhale Thesis: The PhoP regulator is involved in carbon utilisation and metabolite secretion in Pectobacterium brasiliense 1692 Supervisor: Prof. LN Moleleki External Co-supervisor: Dr MI Mhlongo (University of Johannesburg) Dr Claudette Dewing Thesis: The mycobiota of Eastern Cape dairy pastures, including the characterisation and implications of novel Fusarium species Supervisor: Prof. CM Visagie Co-supervisors: Prof. ET Steenkamp , Prof. BD Wingfield , Dr N Yilmaz Dr Ginna Granados Thesis: Epidemiology and population genetics of the pine needle pathogen, Dothistroma septosporum , in Colombia Supervisor: Prof. I Barnes Co-supervisor: Prof. MJ Wingfield Dr Johannes Christoff Joubert Thesis: Chemical ecology of Gonipterus sp. n. 2: the role of constitutive and induced foliar metabolites, sugars, and volatiles in mediating host susceptibility, larval development and parasitoid attraction Supervisor: Prof. A Hammerbacher Co-supervisors: Prof. JD Allison , Prof. BP Hurley , Dr ML Schröder Dr Maxwell Kibor Thesis: Diversity and agroecology of thrips (Thysanoptera) in the Levubu region of Limpopo province, South Africa Supervisor: Prof. CW Weldon Co-supervisor: Prof. CL Sole External Co-supervisor: Dr GFHvG Bekker (Stellenbosch University) Dr Anneri Lötter Thesis: The pangenome of Eucalyptus grandis Supervisor: Prof. S Naidoo Co-supervisor: Dr RE Pierneef External Co-supervisors: Prof. AA Myburg (Stellenbosch University), Prof. JL Wegrzyn (University of Connecticut, United States of America), Dr JT Lovell (HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, United States of America) Dr Phophi Nethononda Thesis: Management of Spodoptera frugiperda on Zea mays in irrigation schemes in Limpopo province, South Africa Supervisor: Prof. BP Hurley Co-supervisors: Prof. B Slippers , Dr MN Makhura Dr Phumlani Nzuza (Jointly awarded with the Ghent University, Belgium as Doctor of Philosophy in Entomology) Thesis: Detection of Gonipterus damage in Eucalyptus plantations in South Africa using unmanned aerial vehicle and satellite remote sensing Supervisor: Prof. WH Maes Co-supervisors: Prof. B Slippers, Dr ML Schröder Dr Brenda Salasini Thesis: Functional and structural insights into tryptophan-tyrosine (WY) domain containing core RxLR Phytophthora effectors Supervisor: Prof. LN Moleleki MSc (* with Distinction) Lindokuhle Biyela * Dissertation: Comparative analyses of extracellular vesicles from Dickeya dadantii and Pectobacterium brasiliense Supervisor: Prof. LN Moleleki Co-supervisor: Dr S Maphosa Simoné Bornman * Dissertation: Mycovirome of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in South Africa Supervisor: Dr PM Wilken Co-supervisors: Prof. BD Wingfield, Dr DA Read Eneri Botha * Dissertation: Determining the efficacy of biocontrol agents and GRAS compounds against the Phytophthora species causing brown rot of citrus Supervisor: Prof. TA Coutinho Co-supervisor: Prof. JE van der Waals Vida Burger Dissertation: Diversity, distribution and transmission of viruses associated with sunflower in South Africa Supervisor: Dr DA Read Sarah Burnett * Dissertation: Photosynthesis in wheat during heat stress: an exploratory study using fluorometry Supervisor: Prof. TPJ Krüger Co-supervisor: Prof. A Hammerbacher Johané Cilliers * Dissertation: Heterodichogamy and flowering type differentiation in Persea americana (Mill.) Supervisor: Prof. N van den Berg Co-supervisor: Dr R Backer Gabriélla Clara Dissertation: Response of tobacco to transient expression of the late expressed ECP2-like effector from the fungus Cercospora zeina Supervisor: Prof. DK Berger External Co-supervisor: Dr DB Kidanemariam (University of Queensland, Australia) Christiaan Grobler Dissertation: Diversity and molecular genetics of prominent Botryosphaeriaceae pathogens of Pinus and Eucalyptus Supervisor: Prof. B Slippers Co-supervisors: Prof. AT Duong External Co-supervisor: Prof. A Fleissner Brittney-Aidan Jamieson Dissertation: Screening South African commercial Eucalyptus provenances for resistance to Quambalaria eucalypti Supervisor: Dr T Bose Co-supervisor: Prof. A Hammerbacher Wisely Kola Dissertation: Biofilm formation and structure in the maize fungal pathogen Exserohilum turcicum in South Africa Supervisor: Dr TE Motaung Co-supervisor: Dr DL Nsibo Nigel Kombora * Dissertation: Investigating the impact of defoliation on Eucalyptus dunnii growth using artificial defoliation trials and 3-PG model Supervisor: Prof. BP Hurley External Co-supervisors: Dr l Germishuizen (University of KwaZulu-Natal), Dr BJ Sivparsad (University of KwaZulu-Natal) Thembela Lulane Dissertation: Effects of fipexide and oncogenes on callus induction and de novo meristem development from wounded Eucalyptus tissues Supervisor: Prof. S Naidoo Co-supervisors: Prof. DK Berger External Co-supervisor: Prof. AA Myburg (Stellenbosch University) Jabulile Mahlangu Dissertation: Field and country-based genetic diversity of Exserohilum turcicum (Pass.) Leonard and Suggs on maize Supervisor: Dr DL Nsibo Co-supervisor: Prof. DK Berger Ndalama Mashava Dissertation: Roles of soil nutrients and tree condition on thrips (Thysanoptera) abundance and damage to avocados in the Levubu region, Limpopo Province, South Africa Supervisor: Prof. CW Weldon Co-supervisor: Prof. CL Sole Otlotleng Moloto Dissertation: Development of translation initiation factor-based resistance to sweet potato virus disease using CRISPR Cas9 technology Supervisor: Dr TE Motaung External Co-supervisors: Dr T Mahlanza (Agricultural Research Council), Dr MJ Mulabisana (Agricultural Research Council) Tshoganyetso Motete Dissertation: Mechanisms influencing resistance of a Eucalyptus host to the leaf blight pathogen Teratosphaeria destructans Supervisor: Prof. S Naidoo Co-supervisor: Dr MA Solís Garcia Tuelo Motloba Dissertation: Host status and suppressive effect of cover crops against Phytophthora nicotianae in a citrus glasshouse study Supervisor: Dr KN Bophela-Dimpe External Co-supervisor: Dr T Ramakuwela (Agricultural Research Council) Nwabisa Ngwentle Dissertation: Isolation, identification and characterisation of plant growth promoting microbes associated with the rhizosphere of wheat Supervisor: Prof. TA Coutinho Co-supervisor: Dr NN Mehlomakulu Bianca Prozesky Dissertation: Overexpression of AtNPR1 in Eucalyptus nitens hairy roots Supervisor: Prof. S Naidoo Co-supervisor: Dr SG Hussey Vera Röder* Dissertation: Transcriptional regulation of the style elongation during secondary pollen presentation in Helianthus annuus L Supervisor: Dr NM Creux Co-supervisors: Prof. E Mizrachi , Dr NA Olivier Sean Schultze * Dissertation: Investigation and characterisation of putative virulence factors of Fusarium circinatum Supervisor: Prof. S Naidoo Co-supervisors: Prof. DK Berger, Prof. ET Steenkamp, Prof. BD Wingfield Aviwe Simandla Dissertation: Trade and pathway associated risks of Eucalyptus and Pinus pest introductions into South Africa Supervisor: Prof. BP Hurley Co-supervisor: Prof. B Slippers External Co-supervisor: Ms MJ Theyse (Phytosolutions) Bernard Smit Dissertation: VvrGRF4-GIF1 morphogene mediated transformation and regeneration of Eucalyptus Supervisor: Prof. S Naidoo External Co-supervisor: Prof. AA Myburg (Stellenbosch University) Megan Smit Dissertation: Investigating the genetic basis of Phytophthora capsici resistance in Cucurbita moschata Supervisor: Dr DA Read Co-supervisor: Prof. I Barnes External Co-supervisor: Dr GD Ascough (Starke Ayres Seed (Pty) Ltd) Marne van Butzelaar Dissertation: Evaluation of Exserohilum turcicum (Pass.) Leonard and Suggs to difenoconazole and propiconazole fungicides in Kenya, South Africa and the United States Supervisor: Dr DL Nsibo Co-supervisor: Prof. DK Berger Bernice van Pletzen Dissertation: DNA barcoding, medicinal activity and evaluating the biological species concept in the tree genus Greyia Hook. & Harv. Supervisor: Prof. DK Berger Co-supervisor: Dr MN de Canha Hannah Verolini * Dissertation: Chloroplast haplotype diversity in eucalypt species with a focus on Eucalyptus grandis Supervisor: Prof. S Naidoo External Co-supervisors: Prof. AA Myburg (Stellenbosch University), Dr MM Mostert (Mondi South Africa) Rodé Visser Dissertation: In vitro phenotyping of Cercospora zeina from maize in five African countries Supervisor: Prof. DK Berger Co-supervisor: Dr DL Nsibo Nomakula Zim Thesis: Genomic adaptations and functional dynamics of Xanthomonas vasicola Supervisor: Prof. TA Coutinho External Co-supervisor: Dr AEJ Yssel (University of Cape Town) Honours (* with Distinction) Carla Botha* Kaylen Botha * Anya Cilliers* Zandri Coetzee * Sydney Cohen Janhvi Dayah Paul Els * Martin Errenrich * Nandus Grobbelaar Nadia Gürtel * Palesa Kubayi Chloe Launder* Oratile Lekalakala Ndumiso Mabuza Mamello Machusi Damei McCue * Leanne Meyer Nondumiso Mngomezulu* Tiisetso Moiloa Karabelo Mokoena Cebo Nkosi Pearl Nkosi Rabia Omar Ayanda Phulula * Albert Retief Danielle Rosner * Monique Saayman * Kiara Schutte Jessie Sherriffs* Maxine Short * Agreanette Sibanyoni Anna Tendenedzai McKayla Tobias Nicole Umutoni Cairin van 't Hof * Nicki van Aardt* Wesley van der Wel* Melissa Venter Jandré Verster * Keegan Walton *